Sorry Puhpaul, it's October

OK, I am a bad, bad blogger. I'm only blogging now because I'm waiting for other people to finish making my dinner. What can I say? It's been busy and I've been cranky and sometimes nothing seems really memorable. However, when I think about it, there are some things that need to be reported. First: we have an exchange student. She's great. Second: she likes Coco and Coco likes her. She is a reformed dog person. Third: She already has a prom date. No surprise.

Larry and I are off to Thunder Bay for four days tomorrow. Apparently, it isn't that smart to leave a grade 12 student home alone for four days.

July is SOOOOO over

This was the Chez Regush 5 star resort. Long ago and far away.

I am now muddling through school start-up and - for a real challenge - looking after Bighair's three cats. Talk about a personality overload at her place. First there is Highway 450, the outdoor cat. Friendly, happy, happy, happy... Wants in, but is just happy to have a little affection and several full bowls of food each day.

Then there is Fletcher. Moves like molasses in winter. Happy and low-maintenance. Might go out if you give him a lot of warning and several minutes to stretch out and move towards the door. Same procedure to get him back in at night. Call, whistle, wait. Call, whistle, wait. Then he will appear, slooooooowly, and meander his own sweet way into the house...

And finally, there is Scarlett, the Voldemort of all cats. If hissing was money, I'd be a millionaire. She has a bad, bad temper and doesn't mind letting me know about it. She's mad when I get there in the morning and hisses all the way past me and out the door. Then she takes her bearings and trots up the street to take position on the path to downtown, where she greets all and sundry pretending all the while to be a nice, friendly cat.

In the evening, I drive to the path, go and call her. She comes up - pretending to be a nice, friendly cat. She lets me pick her up, put her in the car and drive her home. Then, it's hisssssssss all the way into the house. Hissssssss while I feed her, clean out the litter box, pet Fletcher, close the blinds, hisss, hisss, hissss. And an occasional swat - claws extended - directed at my leg. I pet her and she hisssssses.

Jo-anne says she's got a call in to Supernanny for Her Hissiness. Good thing.

It all reminds me a lot of dealing with adolescents.

Moving on

Alas, the time has arrived. One more fantastic dinner by the pool and we must away in the early hours tomorrow to the "Valley of the Sun." Possibly people in Kamloops think they live in the valley of the sun and maybe it's "a valley of the sun" but for sure it isn't "the" valley of the sun. It has been a great warm-up to the real thing.

The week has gone by at breakneck speed - although we are leisurely and relaxed in every way. That never happens during a work week. Just experienced an interesting thunder, lightning, wind, and rain storm. But it's over now, the sun has emerged and it is baking out there again. Wild.

It's the cocktail hour (feels like the cocktail month) and so, more pressing agenda items need to be addressed. Next post from Phoenix.

I'm in the 'loops

Man it's hot. And it's only halfway hot compared to our next destination. The resort here, Chez Regush, is perfect in every way. Beautiful airconditioned accomodations. Fine dining with an incredible wine selection. Golf at first class courses. (if you like that kind of thing). Attentive staff. The pool is lovely. There is a fully equipped workout room, free wireless internet, plasma bigscreen with HDTV. The owners are solicitous and warm. We have fine evening conversations. What more could one want? Absolutely nothing.

And what does this cost? Well, you know. It's priceless.

Shaken not Stirred

Our fabulous relay team - "Shaken not Stirred." First place Masters team. Only Masters team. But third place overall. L-R Gary, Joe, Jud, Ray, Mike, Jan, Me, David, Bruce.

Skeena River Relay '07

Another beautiful day out on the river - except for the hour or so where I stumbled along overheating. Finally subbed out after 9 or 10 kilometres. It was brutal and felt so good to stop. A bit of a motivator to be better prepared for next year. We medalled despite my performance. It helps to the be the only masters' team.

This pic does not do justice to the heat. My usual running time is in the early am when the temperature might crest 4 degrees celsius. It was about 25 degrees, still, and humid out there. Every step was agony, my legs felt like lead, and I never, not for one moment, felt like I was in any kind of groove. Why do we do this?

Mostly because the day on the river, the scenery, the friends, the fun. The post-race beer is a great motivator for many.

Stripey gets visitors

Spring Break?

When everyone else is suffering throughthe heat of Mexico or Arizona, I'm here shovelling. What's that about?

I've been Offline

Well, I've been offline for a long time... Computer blues. Apparently now, things are fixed and I can be busy on the blog again. Sorry to my many blog stalkers and fans. Ok, sorry to the three people who read my blog occasionally. Next big blog will be about the 24 hour sport-a-thon, where I survived 24 hours of continuous sporting and a broken tail-bone and raised $2100 for charity while doing so. All together, our sport-a-thoners raised over $28,000, most of which will be matched by some govt. grant or other. Stand by to stand by... more breaking news soon.

All Things Australian

Early Morning Jones'
Robin, Mum, Dad, Me, Ailsa
Larry is still thanking my Dad for letting him marry me...
An Echidna (anteater) by the side of a country road.

Christmas Dinner...

My Dad at the head of the table as is proper...
Who knew that Nar Nar Goon is "the mural town?"

We headed there for the traditional Boxing Day BBQ

Mate

What seagulls in movies are not saying... This is my brother's bird, "Mate." In animated movies, seagulls are saying "mine, mine, mine..." Because that is what seagulls say. This beautiful bird..."mate"... says "hello mate." Which is kind of dumb, because in essence, he is saying hello to himself.

Used to be Spencer St. Station

Back in the day, this was unsightly railway yards. Now it is the view from our suite at the Grand Hotel at night - full moon. Melbourne is a cool city. Always was, but now has all the things that make a western city attractive. Loved spending time there - rediscovering what I once knew so well. Melbourne was an understated place once. Locals trash talk the floating roof over the railway station, but it was very beautiful to me. Lots of large sculptures in the city. Very cool.

Family BBQ

Brant, Trav, Kirsten...My Fabulous Nephews and Neice

Love you guys!

Ben and Tim create the world

The boys

Tim and Nick in Australia....